Rebecca Hall as Rosalind


Rebecca Hall makes her American debut and has much promise


Rebecca Hall as Rosalind

Ben Brantley reviews Peter Hall's new production of As You Like It for the Theatre Royal Bath, now playing at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston. From his review, you get the clear idea that we may be seeing the beginning of a very promising actress (he compares her to Vanessa Redgrave):

Hopes were accordingly high for her Rosalind, which is to young, classically trained actresses what Hamlet is to their male counterparts, and it is no mean accomplishment that Ms. Hall surpassed expectations when this production opened in Bath last summer. Not since Vanessa Redgrave's Rosalind for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1961 had a performance in the part provoked such feverish, star-making praise...As always, Rosalind comes across as a woman of antic intellect, able to spin a single metaphor into a giddy game. But with Ms. Hall, the playfulness is repeatedly punctured by sudden, self-surprising glimpses of the darker reality described by the frivolous words. Having been exposed early to the treacherous uses of power, she is reluctant to trust anyone.

It is exciting to watch a promising new face appear - it will be interesting to see what she does.

Posted: Wed - December 17, 2003 at 09:47 PM          

©